Fighting Words in New Hampshire
John Kerry will speaking later tonight at the New Hampshire’s Jefferson-Jackson Dinner in Manchester, New Hampshire. We’ll have the full text and a video of the event later on, but here are some excerpts to chew on until then:
They tell us we’re making progress in Iraq and that there is no civil war. That is a lie. There is a civil war and it is costing American and Iraqi lives every single day and we must change course in Iraq….
They tell us the Congressional Page scandal is a Democratic plot to win the mid term elections. That is a lie. This issue is here because of a Republican cover-up. And those from the Party that preaches moral values that covered this up, have no right to preach moral values any more….
They say we must support the war in order to support the troops. I say the best way to support the troops is to oppose a course that squanders their lives, oppose a course that dishonors their sacrifice, and oppose a course that disserves our principles. They say we would dishonor the lives that have been lost by changing course in Iraq. How immoral and shameful to use lives already given as an excuse to take even more. How immoral to say that more must die because others already have. When soldiers suffer and die on the altar of an Administration’s stubborn pride, when they lose limbs because of the incompetence and arrogance of mere politicians, then the only patriotic choice is to take back the moral authority abused by those in high office – take it back and throw them out….
In New Hampshire, Congressmen Bass and Congressman Bradley have failed to ask the tough questions, failed to demand the answers, and rubberstamped a willful president’s wrongful course. That failure demands the independent voice of New Hampshire be represented by the independent voices of Paul Hodes and Carol Shea Porter! ...
Let me tell you, presidents and politicians may worry about losing face, or losing votes, or losing legacy – I believe we ought to worry about young Americans who are losing their lives….
It’s immoral for old men to send young Americans to fight and die in a conflict without a strategy that can work – on a mission that has not weakened terrorism but worsened it….
Well I think Americans see through this charade. Americans now know the truth:
We have a Katrina foreign policy -blunders and failures that have betrayed our ideals, killed and maimed our soldiers, and widened the terrorist threat instead of defeating it….
We deserve leaders who know we have “nothing to fear but fear itself” not politicians who have nothing to offer but fear itself….
No Democrat should be bullied by an administration that has a cut and run policy in Afghanistan, a do nothing policy in North Korea and a stand still and lose strategy in Iraq. We need to stand up to them because staying the course isn’t far-sighted; it’s blind. Leaving our troops in the middle of a civil war isn’t resolute; it’s reckless. Remember: half of the service members listed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall died after America’s leaders knew our strategy would not work. It was immoral then and it would be immoral now to engage in the same delusion….
We need to once again start treating our moral authority as a national asset that does not tie our hands but extends our reach. We must never excuse an Abu Ghraib or a Guantanamo. And let me say it plainly: No American president should be for torture before he’s against it….
So more than anything, we need to make America, America again -we need to restore America’s moral authority in the world and the United States needs to make some friends on this planet….
There are more Katrinas. Take health care – health care is a slow-motion Katrina that’s ruining lives and bankrupting families all over the country. In the almost six Bush years, health insurance premiums have gone up 73 percent….
You want a test of family values? Here’s a really simple test: Instead of people earning a million dollars a year getting another tax cut, give every child in America health care – now!...
So our job as Democrats is to fight until we stop allowing the richest country on the face of the planet to be the only one that doesn’t have health care for every man, woman, and child. The Democratic Party must stand for health care for all Americans-or we don’t stand for anything at all….
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Sounds like it is going to raise the roof, wish I could be there. Keep the heat on sir, and never surrender. JK 2008!! Bank on it !!!
Awesome, man.
Keep up the great work!
Thanks for the preview, Dick. I’ll be watching on C-SPAN tonight.
This is going to be good. Will be on C=Span 2 at 8 p.m. est.
Hitting the news too,
Kerry says GOP lied about Foley, Iraq
By HOLLY RAMER, Associated Press Writer 40 minutes ago
MANCHESTER, N.H. - Sen. John Kerry, a potential presidential candidate in 2008, likened the congressional page scandal to the war in Iraq on Friday, saying Republicans have lied about both.
“They tell us we’re making progress in Iraq and that there is no civil war. That is a lie,” Kerry, D-Mass., said in remarks prepared for delivery at the New Hampshire Democratic Party’s annual fall fundraising dinner. “There is a civil war and it is costing American and Iraqi lives every single day, and we must change course in Iraq.”
Republicans also are lying when they claim the page scandal surrounding former Rep. Mark Foley is a Democratic plot to win the midterm elections, Kerry said.
“This issue is here because of a Republican cover-up,” he said. “And those from the party that preaches moral values that covered this up have no right to preach moral values anymore.”
more>
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061013/ap_on_el_se/kerry
Kerry tells N.H. Dems: GOP lied about Foley scandal, Iraq
By Holly Ramer, Associated Press Writer | October 13, 2006
MANCHESTER, N.H.—Sen. John Kerry accused Republicans of lying about everything from the Congressional page scandal to the war in Iraq, and the handling of North Korea.
“A lie, a lie, a lie, a lie. What we have in Washington is a house of lies, and it is time to clean house in November,” Kerry said Friday in remarks prepared for delivery at the New Hampshire Democratic Party’s annual fall fundraising dinner.
“They tell us we’re making progress in Iraq and that there is no civil war. That is a lie,” Kerry said. “There is a civil war and it is costing American and Iraqi lives every single day and we must change course in Iraq.”
more>
http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2006/10/13/kerry_tells_nh_dems_gop_lied_about_foley_scandal_iraq/?rss_id=Boston.com+/+News
That reads like a great speech—Lie is right. Looking forward to seeing it on C-SPAN.
Here we go!
Nice 2 standing ovations in the first 5 minutes…
*what’s up with the cookies here, still not baked?
I’m watching it right now!
Outstanding energy, John! Great job!!!
Great speaking. Your passionate tone makes the facts all the more true.
Well done, sir.
Awesome speech… loving all the standing ovations!
Awesome speech.
While the part concerning Iraq and foreign policy is compelling, I love the part concerning domestic policy and healthcare. He seemed to have even more energy and passion, if possible, when he was speaking about the plight of working Americans.
I agree.
They are all well-deserved!
Firing up the NH base! Tell the American People The Truth!
GO JK!
“Value work, not wealth.”
“Export products, not jobs.”
Simply great.
Democratic program
This is a program I can stand for!!
One of the great things about Kerry is that he can actually back up his stance with personal experiences and is not just sucking up to the popular for poll-points. He’s sincere, passionate and needed.
Powerful - kick A speech from JK!
Great speeches by Carol Shea-Porter and Paul Hodes!
Senator Kerry’s speech absolutely ROCKED!
“Six Bush years” (a despicable period in history)
“They debate strawmen because they’re afraid to debate real men and women”
Stand up!
Awesome!
It’s great that C-SPAN is still broadcasting the after speech interaction. Good stuff.
John is awesome, he’s completely down to earth with those people.
He’s the real deal.
Great speech!
Great to watch the interaction afterward, too.
I love that so many people are telling JK to run in 2008!
MH
Thayt footage is priceless. I hope staff can get it, it should be part of the video of the speech available here.
I know!
I’m so pumped after hearing all of that support from everyone.
2008 can’t come soon enough.
That was some speech. Can’t wait till the transcript is up.
I know. As soon as it’s posted, I’ll be posting it for all my friends to see on Myspace.
That was simply outstanding.
Pamela,
I certainly hope that footage is included. I doubt it will be included in the rebroadcast on C-Span!
Pamela,
“That footage is priceless. I hope staff can get it, it should be part of the video of the speech available here. “
I second that, those people stood for all of us here, John Kerry has great supporters.
That footage was absolutely priceless. It showed the true colors of Kerry’s supporters. That NEEDS to be included with the video. That was awesome.
JK had the room jumping, He hit all the key points and hit the Republicans hard. Love the speech, wish I could have been there in person.
It would be beyond awesome to meet John.
Thanks for the comments; we’ll have the speech video up on the website tomorrow.
It was really exciting to see the crowd react to the candidates, and, of course, to the Senator. The speech was great, and the footage after was priceless. I hope it’s included in the Road to the White House broadcast and podcast this week.
I can’t wait to watch it again tomorrow. That was great.
That speech totally rocked! I loved that he used the ‘L’ word (LIE) to describe so many of BushCo’s misdeeds.
My faith has been restored!! As a native of Michigan, we’ve been so very hard-hit by the policies of the Bush gang and many people here are depressed and also angry. So…after watching our Tigers win another game (YEAH!!) switched to C-Span just in time to hear John Kerry telling it like it is. Every word he spoke was music to my ears so join all of you in working toward a Democrat win in November and urging JK to run in 2008. We do need him now more than ever.
Have bookmarked this page so will check back often and keep in touch.
Thanks so much, Richard Bell. Will look forward to the video to share with family and friends here.
First of all, to say that ABC is left-wing is to say Fox News is “fair and balanced”, oh wait, you said that too. Well, you’re just wrong then.
Secondly, to say the war in Iraq is “getting better”, does not understand the war in Iraq or the word “war”. “War” is something that occurs as a counterargument to an initial strike. On 9/11, we were struck by Al Qaeda, not Saddam Hussein. Saddam Hussein killed terrorists, and knew that if he ever even thought about striking us, we would retaliate to the extent of wiping him off the face of the earth. Saddam was a heartless, evil bastard, but he was/is not stupid.
Thirdly, we NEVER found ANY weapons of mass destruction. The media “never talks about it” because NONE were ever found. The weapons that were found were not hidden weapons that were banned by the UN. Those were not presented to the public’s interest in going to war from the start. There were never any weapons, Saddam had no intentions, it was a mistake to invade, it’s a blood-bath now, we need to LEAVE now, and bring our heroes home, before even more death occurs, effecting countless other lives.
We are LOSING this war. The war in Iraq IS NOT part of the war on terror. The people who were are FIGHTING is part of it, because we invaded and created a safe haven. That does not mean that IRAQ is a part of the war on TERROR. It’s causing it, it’s killing our troops, countless men, women and children, both American and Iraqi, not to mention others, and it’s time to go home now.
That last comment of mine was in response to a comment somebody left, which has been deleted now.
Just thought I would verify that.
Why start up a negative vibe? We are all here at JohnKerry.com because we are Kerry supporters. Go find your base and do the same, sir.
I kinda guessed that must’ve been what had happened, Brandon. But thanks for the confirmation, as it took a certain amount of “huh?”-going before I sussed out that you weren’t trying to start a new broohaha there.
A suggestion to the Moderators That Be, then:
If you’re going to delete a post, for whatever reasons there might be for doing so, please be kind enough to put in some kind of placeholder for it when you do, so that the rest of us can tell when something’s been redacted after the fact. Thank you.
hay un mensaje desaparecido,
Otter
I don’t want to argue on here, so I apologize if I somehow spoiled the previous positive mood. =)
I’m also sorry if anyone was confused by my post. Politics can cause quite a stir, can’t they? =)
President Bush must be in La-La Land to say everything in Iraq is going fine. Just read Woodward’s latest book.
“I will not withdraw [from Iraq], even if Laura and Barney (his dog) are the only ones supporting me.” - Bush.
Is there anybody who can talk some sense into this man?
Too bad we can’t go back in time to vote him out of office in 2004. Approximately 51% of this country is stupid: preventing gay marriages turned out to be more important than the war in Iraq (talk about getting their priorities wrong). And now we’re paying the price for reelecting him. Kerry would have fixed this country. Instead Bush has 2 more years to screw up everything. The next president has a hell of a job to do to clean up Bush’s mess.
Hmm.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon’s Inspector General ordered an investigation into alleged abuse at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay that holds suspected Taliban and al Qaeda members, a spokesman said on Friday.
The order followed a statement last week from a U.S. Marine saying Guantanamo guards described physically and mentally abusing detainees, including slamming one inmate’s head into a cell door and denying others privileges just to anger them.
The Marine’s sworn statement was released by lawyers for detainees last week. The inspector general’s office, which serves as the Pentagon’s internal watchdog agency, received the Marine’s affidavit and letter by e-mail on Tuesday, the spokesman said.
The case was referred to Miami-based U.S. Southern Command, which is responsible for the prison at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. No deadline has been set for the investigation’s conclusion, the spokesman said.
[snip]
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they only hate us for our freedoms,
Otter
The only thing the Republicans know how to do right now is play the fear card. That’s all they have. It sadly worked for them 2004. It won’t work again. Hopefully the people who weren’t able to think for themselves in 2004, will have woken up by November 7, and by 2008.
Mass media and irrelevant wars can do many things to certain people, and clearly none of those are the ability to think for yourself instead of being used by the system.
It’s time to take the bull by the horns and plow right throug these Republicans and the people who intend to vote for them. Both this November and in 2008.
Brandon,
Good for you for calling out a RW troll with truth. I’m sure it was a pretty nasty post, and that is why it disappeared so quickly.
So instead of having to explain your post the next time one of the sleaze bombs come over from the other side, just refer to him in your post. The rest of us will know exactly what you are doing.
By the way I went to your myspace and I must say it is nice to have such a young voice sharing your thoughts and being involved. We need those young voices more then ever.
I am sorry that I missed the original broadcast of this speech. Pamela, I am sure you can get at least the audio and then I can link to it on my blog…or the video?
Anyhow, you are all welcome to visit the entry on my blog John Kerry for President 2008. I always look forward to visits from other Kerry supporters.
John has work to do to get that nomination. But there is no one in America who ‘gets it’ as well as Senator Kerry!
Bob
Brandon
Great response to whatever it is we all missed. Thank you for knowing your stuff.
Otter
I agree, a place holder of sorts is good - when a negative comment gets removed and there’s a response to it, it leaves us all wondering.
I am a moderate and I have never felt more concerned about the direction of our country in my entire life. This administration is ruining America, please vote democratic in the next election.
Republicans are hypocrites because they were so gung-ho about going to war in Iraq yet most of them never saw combat themselves. Democrats like John Kerry, John Murtha, and Max Cleland served their country honorably while Bush, Cheney, Wolfowitz, and Rumsfeld all avoided the Vietnam War somehow. Kerry is right about Bush lying to us about Iraq not being a civil war because Iraqis are killing each other and our troops are caught in the middle of it.
However, unlike some other Kerry supporters, I do not believe John Kerry should have another chance at the White House because he is the democratic version of Bob Dole. A war hero with no charisma. He blew his opportunity by losing to the dumbest and worst president since Richard Nixon. It’s time for the Democrats to nominate a new person who could actually win and help fix Bush’s Iraq mess.
Joe
Evidently you’ve never met John Kerry because I can tell you if you have he’s got more charisma than Bob Dole has in his little finger.
Kerry is warm, funny, caring and compassionate. He listens when you speak with him, he’s not at all like the media has portrayed him in the past. But, hey they did a good job painting a false impression of him that every many moderates and liberals believed.
Furthermore, when Kerry speaks he’s intelligent. I’m personally of the frame of mind that I would rather have an intelligent president than a fool in the White House.
There isn’t a Democrat out there that has done half of what John Kerry has done to fight for us in the past year or more since the election. He’s been right on so many issues and he’s been out there saying things that other Dems have not had the courage to say.
Couple that with all the money he’s raised for candidates in the mid-terms. He’s run circles around every other potential Dem candidate. America needs him. It was clear watching the reaction to him after the speech in NH tonight that a lot of people want him to run. Regardless, right now he’s focused on THIS November and we all should be too.
Excellent smackdown Pamela!
Nice to hear that you met him in person Pamela, but I don’t think Kerry stands a chance against Hillary in 2008. Kerry has a lot of catching up to do if he runs again because most people still view him as unlikable and as a stiff politician. Don’t forget that the Swift Boat Liars will go after him again. Their negative attack ads were widely discredited but they helped to sink Kerry’s poll numbers.
My advice to Senator Kerry: Keep doing what you have been doing and go on the offense when attacked. Try to summarize your beliefs and arguments in short slogans because the voters like soundbites and bumper-sticker messages. Open up more to people and stay on a clear and consistent message.
Joe
I’m glad you stuck around to read my response. I was actually going to post again and direct you to some posts on my blog about the last couple of times I have seen JK that included a meeting I set up with LA area bloggers:
KERRY: Meet The “Bloogers”
The John Kerry Bloogers Meeting in Los Angeles
Walking and Talking with John Kerry, About the Blogosphere
You’ll find, if you check the above links impressions of other bloggers who also thought Kerry was like the media describes him until they actually met him and some photos that aren’t your typical photo-op photos. It’s worth taking the time to read thorugh them and check out the links to the other blogs.
As for Hillary, you don’t seriously think that the GOP won’t pull out all the stops on Hillary do you? Because if you think that Hillary is un-sinkable think again. She’s got more to go after than anyone.
The Swift Boat Liars have been discredited over and over again. Kerry gets they should have been handled differently and he’s been open about that in recent months.
John Kerry Vows Tougher Stance on Swift Boat Liars
Also note that the Patriot Project has been full steam ahead exposing this group of liars - their credibility will be lessened even further IF Kerry runs.
And last but not least, I would suggest you browse through the Kerry archives of my blog, because Kerry has refined and honed his message big time in recent months. He hits harder, and has slapped down the GOP with some seriously sweet soundbites of late. He’s also spending a lot of time “opening up” to more people and he’s far more accessible than he ever was.
The discussion between Joe and Pamela above doesn’t really rate as a “smackdown”, nor should it have to. For one thing, I don’t expect that this re-opened JK blogsite is meant only to be a bully pulpit for preaching to the choir. Debate, debunk, describe, define—these are all necessary elements of a truly democratic exchange of ideas, and rational, respectful differences of opinion are a healthy part of that process.
Both Joe and Pamela brought up good points in their comments, and they highlight the kind of quandary that JK & Co. might find themselves facing as events unfold over the next year or so.
The post-‘04 John Kerry is a far more influential Senator now than he was before his run for the presidency. His position on the Hill is stronger, his standing among his colleagues and constituents is greater, and his ability to effectively speak truth to power (and to the media and to the American public, which are congruent but not identical to the former) is clearly enhanced now.
Mr. Kerry is using the bully pulpit he has helped to construct to do many things as Senator these days, all of them worthwhile and many of them crucial to the furtherance of the progressive ideals we all share. Were he not to be doing and saying the things that he is doing and saying now, we would have lost a critical keystone of our political restructuring.
If Mr. Kerry chooses to run for president again in 2008, I will of course work my asterisk off to help him achieve that goal, just like I did in 2004. I believe in his strength of character, his experience, his intelligence, and his fitness to lead us through a turbulent time of rebirthing in this great country of ours.
If Mr. Kerry were to run for president in 2008 and win, then his change of venues would leave a gap in the legislative branch that would be difficult for progressives to fill with anyone else who could be as effective then as Mr. Kerry is now. Difficult, but hardly impossible; and the necessity of doing so would be offset by the value of his serving in the White House.
If Mr. Kerry were to run for president in 2008 and lose—and let’s face it, a victory in his second race for the prize would be anything but a certainty, politics and the public being what they are—then his current effectiveness as a Senator would be lost to our cause without a concomitant gain in power elsewhere. So there is more at stake than merely being president or not being president on 11/8/08.
I point this out not to be a naysayer, but to highlight the complicated choices Mr. Kerry, his party, and our small-d democratic movement will be wrestling with as 2008 creeps closer in time. If he chooses to run, I will of course support him in his quest for the presidency. If he chooses not to run, I will of course continue to support him in his actions as Senator.
Either way, I will respect his decision and respect Mr. Kerry for choosing to follow what he believes to be the best course for the country at that moment in history. And I will still, in my own small way, have his back for as long as he wants me to.
things are never as easy as they seem,
Otter
He seemed to have even more energy and passion, if possible, when he was speaking about the plight of working Americans.
Posted by FrenchGirlFromMA | October 13, 2006 9:06 PM
—FrenchGirl, this was exactly my reaction, too.
One of the great things about Kerry is that he can actually back up his stance with personal experiences and is not just sucking up to the popular for poll-points. He’s sincere, passionate and needed.Posted by Brandon | October 13, 2006 9:14 PM
—Brandon: YES. That’s exactly it. Plus he’s been way ahead of the curve on so many issues—like energy and environment– years ahead of the pollsters and the pundits.
I think people are finally beginning to appreciate the importance of real substance, real leadership. (I hope so, anyway— if, even after this miserable period in our history, we still can’t tell the difference between first-rate leaders and pandering, poll-driven politicians, or, worse, are indifferent about the difference, our country is finished.)
Brandon (9:08 pm) and French Girl (9:12 pm) : I also loved The List . Spread it around! How can people say that Dems. don’t have an agenda? I’ve heard Sen. Kerry recite this agenda several times over the last year. . but finally, FINALLY, people are starting to LISTEN.
A video report of JK at the JJ dinner on NECN :
http://www.boston.com/partners/worldnow/necn.html?catID=80780&clipid=1008781&autoStart=true&mute=false&continuous=true
I think Kerry should and IS running in 2008. Earlier on he was saying that he would make a decision by next year, last night after his speech, he said said that he would make a decision after the elections. Now, that could mean the same thing, but I have a feeling that after seeing all of the support last night, he’s now motivated more than ever to take on all the crutial issues that continue to worsen day after day and knows that we all need him.
The Primaries are going to be interesting. If Hillary is to run, it has been widely speculated for a long time that she will take the cake. I really like Hillary, but her stance on Iraq leaves me cold. Her stance is an open-ended ticket for US forces, and that is killing more and more people. Death is not what we need right now, resolve is. John Kerry is the man for that stance, and I see victory in the distance, after the fog of Republican scare tactics fade away from whoever the Republican nominee is to be.
Indie Liberal
Just doing what I do best after all of these years… keeping people informed about John Kerry. :)
You’ve been invaluable in the day to day job of keeping people current on JK news in the blogosphere.
Otter
It’s good to know you still have JK’s back… Things are never as easy as they seem… Your support would have been welcomed by those of us continuing the daily effort of keeping Kerry news in the forefront since ‘04.
Hmm. I’m not quite sure I follow that last comment there, Pamela, since my support for Mr. Kerry’s policies and positions has not diminished between then and now.
Of course, he is not the sole proponent of those positions and policies, and perhaps our paths haven’t crossed as frequently as you might have liked because we’ve been putting our efforts into different venues for much of the last two years or so.
But higher or lower interim profiles notwithstanding… I’m still the same old smart-asterisked adamantly-peacemongering bleeding-heart progressive Otter that you came to know and love back in the day.
:0)
and arbusto is still a doink,
Otter
Of course the junior senator from Massachusetts will run again, but so far the odds are against him. He has to first convince the democrats why they should give him a second chance. The GOP sometimes gives their nominees a second chance, so why not the democrat party? Al Gore also fits in this category.
In order for a democrat to win the White House in 2008, whoever the nominee is, he (or she) will have to speak openly about his or her religious faith to the American public. Smart Amateur pointed out that the “moral values” issue was a bigger deal to Bush voters than what’s going on in Iraq and that’s part of the reason the current president managed to win a second term.
Joe
John Kerry recently gave a very moving speech about his faith at conservative Pepperdine University, which received quite a bit of news. Perhaps you missed it. Here’s some links for you:
Text of the speech: John Kerry at Pepperdine: “Service and Faith”
In the news: Observers Say Kerry Has Shown Democrats a ‘Third Way’ to Discuss Religion and Public Life
Pepperdine students on Kerry’s speech and link video of the speech: Finding Common Ground: Senator John Kerry Describes the Unifying Potential of Faith in Public Life
Post speech interview: Religion & Ethics Interviews John Kerry
Review of Kerry’s speech: Faith, Politics and Values
The moral values issues were clearly defined by the Senator and hugely received in the belly of the beast, the ultra-conservative Pepperdine University. The Q&A after the speech was also particularly enlightening - that segment is included in the video at the link above.
Otter
Yes, I’m fully aware of what others from the old JK.com community have been doing over the past couple of years. We’ve all been busy in many, many venues. :)
Simply glad to know you’ve still got JK’s back. :)
Joe,
I think he knows what he is up against, and I think he deserves as much a chance as Gore and dwrds who people forget that Edwrds was on the ticket with Kerry.
He has spoke about faith and in front and on very conservative grounds.
You can read about here:
http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=4262
Joe,
“but I don’t think Kerry stands a chance against Hillary in 2008.”
Hilary may turn out to be unbeatable, but there have been plenty of front runners who have been knocked out of Democratic primaries. Anyone remember President Muskie? Everyone said Kerry couldn’t win in 2003 when Dean was way out ahead and Kerry even trailed Al Sharpton in the polls
“people still view him as unlikable and as a stiff politician.”
Not the people who have actually seen him. That’s why he came from behind to win in Iowa and New Hampshire, where the caucus and primary were decided by people who saw the candidate, not the media spin.
“Don’t forget that the Swift Boat Liars will go after him again.”
Republicans will make up lies about any Democrat running. At least this time we know what lies are coming and will be ready.
“My advice to Senator Kerry: Keep doing what you have been doing and go on the offense when attacked.”
Kerry has made it clear that this is his plan for 2008.
“Try to summarize your beliefs and arguments in short slogans because the voters like soundbites and bumper-sticker messages.”
Hopefully, after eight years of a failed presidency, people will see the advantage of a candidate who has knowledge of the issues and can say more than a soundbite. Despite that, I agree that to some degree this is necessary. Kerry typically goes into longer explanations well before the vote and shortens his message for soundbites as it gets closer.
“stay on a clear and consistent message.”
Kerry has always had a consistent message. The real problem is that Kerry has to get past the media filter and get that message out. He’s been showing since the election that he can do a better job of it.
Republicans basically run a perpetual campaign, and just stick their obvious leader (or in 2000, guy who looked the most like their last leader) into the nomination and are ready to go. Democrats haven’t been as good at that, and Kerry started out as more of an unknown nationally than Republican candidates do, allowing the Republicans to define him. Now that Kerry has been getting his message out the last couple years, and will step it up even more in the next two years, he will run as a much stronger candidate in 2008.
Joe,
Others have already pointed out that Kerry has taken steps to counter the Republican electoral advantage on religion.
It would be a mistake to worry too much about the last battle. For example, in Ohio they are finding that voters have lost interest in conservative values issues. Republicans are losing support from evangelical voters. Many Christians are finding that Republican policies are most hurting the group that Jesus most strongly advocated for—the poor.
Previously, chruch attendence was the best predictor of party affiliation. A Gallup Poll last week showed that churchgoers supported both Democrats and Republicans equally at 47%. I suspect that Repubicans might beat Democrats at the polls among heavy churchgoers, but the numbers ill be down considerably, reducing the impact.
The effect of religion and values on politics is one of the major issues I follow at Liberal Values. Posts with references to the data I mention here can be found in the section on Religion.
Joe,
I echo EVERYTHING Ron just said, and would add also that Kerry’s message is crisp, clear and passionate. Still don’t believe the Dems have a message? Then watch or read the speech he gave last night in NH. . and listen to his Democratic agenda (in earlier speeches, he referred to them as the Democratic commandments) .For the authoritative version, see the speech. But just to show you how compelling and memorable the “commandments” are, I’m going to recite to you here what I remember from last night, without cheating and rereading the transcript (apologies in advance if I don’t get it quite right, but ):
1. Tell the truth NO MORE LIES
2. fire the incompetents; need for accountability of government officials
3. Health care for everyone (“if Democrats don’t stand for this, they stand for nothing” )
4. Return to America which honors work, not wealth; Export products, not jobs
5. energy independence
6. OK, I’m getting vague about the rest, so this will surely not be exactly right. . but here are other things I remember:
a. we must reconnect with the world: rebuild diplomacy; reestablish our moral authority by honorable behavior in the world. NO MORE TORTURE
b. withdraw from Iraq
c. (probably part of 5:) alternative energy, conservation
d. stop dividing the nation with wedge issues; need to unify the country by return to atmosphere of mutual respect and inclusiveness
e. (related to d, above). Dems (FDR): the only thing to fear is fear itself.Republican strategy offers only fear, and feeds cynicism. (Implied: we need to move past fear and cynicism_
e. also, underlying theme of whole speech was return to REAL moral values, the values that made our country great, and which underpin the Democratic agenda
But don’t take my rambling words as the gospel here: watch or read the speech!
Also, I strongly urge you to check out the links Pamela provided to Sen. Kerry’s magnificent speech, “Faith and Values”, at Pepperdine last month, and all the accompanying material.
A recent book, Applebee’s America laid out a strong case for how the Bush campaign target marketed through the churches and other sectors. They also pointed to well documented information that more evangelicals are registered Democrats than are registered Republicans. The Bush campaign targeted certain key issues with voters through a highly tuned database that we at the time had nothing like.
Although values issues may not be playing as big in Ohio this cycle, it’s important to not turn our backs on these voters. The point was made in Applebee’s America that had we paid more attention to winning over these voters we would not have lost so many to Bush.
Joe is correct that Kerry needs to speak on this subject and he has and I would imagine he will continue to. His speech last night referenced values.
Values are what drives voters and concern for the economy which is the shift noted in Ohio is truly a values issue. Democrats need to understand how to address these things to the voters in the “religious” sector which is now and always will be a large sector of the voting population.
I browsed through some of the speeches you guys recommended and he does sound very presidential. His biggest blunder was the time he said that he “voted for the $87 billion before” he voted against it. It allowed Bush supporters to paint him as a flip-flopper and this probably cost him the presidency. If only the 2004 John Kerry was like the 2006 John Kerry, he might have won the election.
Joe
I’m glad you browsed through some of the speeches. They are all great. I didn’t want to inundate you with links, but there’s more speeches over there if you are interested as well as various opinions on them from the news, etc. Policy wonks get the point he meant to make with that blunder, sadly the general public didn’t.
Ron is correct also in what he said about the media not getting the message out. The blocked a lot of what he was saying in ‘04 and twisted a lot of too. Eric Boehlert does a great job explaining that in his book LapDogs. See here and <a href=“http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=3180”>here for more on LapDogs from both Ron and I.
I’ll point you to one thing you might find interesting in the case of the media not putting out the Kerry message: John Kerry has Showdown with Reporter, Hits Raw Nerve that Reporter Reveals to Bloggers After Conference Call.
Kerry righteously slaps down the reporter in question in the 1st audio link. You’ll enjoy it.
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Yea kerry should run for president again…of france!
he’ll win by a landslide there.
Proud Texan:
With a 30 something approval rating in the US and lower in France, neither country would elect Bush now. Kerry 2008!
Joe,
“His biggest blunder was the time he said that he “voted for the $87 billion before” he voted against it.”
It only became a blunder because the one phrase was taken out of context and repeated endlessly. While not the best way to word it, the phrase made sense if the specifics are considered, and the speech it was included in was well received when given.
There were two separate votes on the $87 billion which differed in how the money was funded. Kerry voted yes on the first bill and no on the second due to the differences in how this was funded, which is hardly flip flopping.
This was one poorly worded phrase. There are entire books of poorly worded phrases from Bush.
That’s a great idea Proud Texan, Kerry could be president of France. In the meantime, Bush could be president of Iraq.
Here are JK’s 10 Key Points. Copy and Paste into your WP, print and hang on your fridge, next to the mirror you look in the most, etc.
*Tell the truth.
*Fire the incompetents.
*Find Osama bin Laden and secure our ports and homeland.
*Bring our troops home from Iraq.
*Obey the law and protect our civil rights.
*Stop subsidizing big oil and start investing in energy alternatives.
*Make access to affordable health care a right and not a privilege.
*Reduce the deficit and respect work over wealth.
*Chase the money changers from the temple of democracy.[YES!]
*Invest in education and fight for American jobs that restore the American dream.
My favorite line from this speech:
‘The Scripture doesn’t say Heal the sick if they can pay for it.’
“Instead Bush has 2 more years to screw up everything. The next president has a hell of a job to do to clean up Bush’s mess.”
Posted by Smart Amateur | October 13, 2006 11:09 PM
You are a Smart Amateur. This is precisely why we need JK to run and become #44. There is only one other person out there who has the same experience, skill and potential to do that job. I believe Al Gore is not planning to run, absent some catastrophe. Like JK not running. I am also with many people who would love to see him back in DC - appointed if he would be willing to do that rather than run for office.
There simply will not be time for the other candidates to fill in their learning curve on all these issues and hit the ground running - let alone as fast as JK can.
Notice I have left Hillary out of this. She doesn’t have the potential - despite the experience, some skill and the question of whether she could win - she is not skilled enough and lacks the vision. She is an excellent Senator and I still consider her role as First Lady awesome. I would hate to see her get into the WH and face the same stupid attacks that kept Bill from fulfilling his promise. It’s another situation we don’t have time for and battles we don’t want to waste energy on.
Someday I sincerely hope the GOP and the Media are given the proper responsibility for the waste of millions of dollars, precious time and far too much energy on all the Clinton attacks over 8 years. Obviously part of their agenda to derail America in their direction (tax breaks and increasing the vast wealth of a few) - no matter what it would create in disasters and tragedy for the country.
Here’s to getting legislators inside the beltway who restore faith in our political system and government - because of what they DO.